Periconceptional Surveillance for Prevention of Anemia and Birth Defects in India

Women of reproductive age are a high-risk population for anemia and micronutrient deficiencies due to social structures, and the physical demands of pregnancy and lactation particularly in South Asia. Inadequate periconceptional folate and vitamin B12 status are implicated in the development of birth defects and other pregnancy complications. Randomized trials established that periconceptional folic acid supplementation can prevent the occurrence and recurrence of neural tube defects, and fortification of staple foods with folic acid has been associated with decreasing neural tube defects in many countries around the globe. Red blood cell folate has been identified as a biomarker of neural tube defect risk at the population level, and increases in RBC folate concentrations predicted reductions in neural tube defect risk of up to 10-fold in USA, Chinese and Irish populations.

Emerging evidence has identified maternal vitamin B12 deficiency as a risk factor for neural tube defects, and vitamin B12 status may modify circulating folate biomarkers that predict neural tube defect risk. It is estimated that the burden of neural tube defects in India is among the highest in the world. However, there is little representative population-level data from Southern India. Surveillance programs are urgently needed to establish the burden of anaemia and key micronutrient deficiencies in settings such as Southern India to inform interventions for anemia and birth defects prevention.

The objective of this study is to conduct a biomarker survey of anemia and vitamin B12 and folate status in women of reproductive age as part of a periconceptional surveillance program in Southern India and to inform the development of a randomized trial for anemia and birth defects prevention. As part of this surveillance program, we are also establishing the World Health Organization-recommended microbiological assay for folate at our laboratory in Bangalore, India, and a WHO-SEARO site for birth defects surveillance in this setting. Findings from this pre-intervention biomarker survey will directly inform the development of a randomized efficacy trial of quadruple-fortified salt for the prevention of anemia and birth defects in Southern India and serve as the foundation for future public health programs to improve the health of women and young children in this population.